Japa: Mass exodus of doctors deepens Nigeria’s healthcare crisis, says minister

Nigeria is facing a deepening healthcare workforce crisis as the continued migration of medical professionals places increasing strain on an already fragile system, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, has said.

Salako sounded the warning on Monday while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 United Kingdom Global Health Summit held at the Royal College of Physicians in London.

He explained that the ongoing exodus of Nigerian health workers, widely known as “japa,” has worsened manpower shortages and intensified pressure on the country’s overstretched health sector.

According to details of his address, Nigeria currently has about four doctors per 10,000 people well below the World Health Organisation’s recommended minimum of 10 per 10,000.

Describing the situation as urgent, Salako said the global health workforce shortage is already a crisis, not a distant threat. He noted that although Africa bears more than a quarter of the world’s disease burden, it accounts for less than three per cent of the global health workforce.

He added that the challenge is particularly severe in Nigeria, where shortages of doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health professionals have reached critical levels.

The minister revealed that migration has significantly worsened the deficit, citing UK data showing that 13,609 Nigerian health workers moved there between 2021 and 2022, making Nigeria one of the leading sources of foreign-trained personnel.

He also referenced a 2023 survey indicating that 57 per cent of Nigerian doctors had taken active steps to relocate abroad in search of better opportunities.

Salako noted that each doctor trained in Nigeria represents a substantial public investment, often exceeding $200,000, warning that their departure effectively shifts limited resources from a constrained system to wealthier countries.

He described the trend as a global equity issue requiring coordinated international action.

Nigeria’s healthcare sector has long struggled with underfunding, weak infrastructure, and heavy reliance on out-of-pocket spending by patients. Despite a population exceeding 220 million, access to quality care remains limited, especially in rural areas.

Experts have consistently cautioned that continued migration could further undermine service delivery in public hospitals.

Highlighting ongoing reforms, Salako said the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has introduced the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative to strengthen coordination of policies and funding. The strategy is built on the principles of “One Plan, One Budget, and One Conversation” to improve accountability and efficiency.

He also pointed to broader global pressures on healthcare systems, including economic instability, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. With global growth projected at between 2.7 and 3.1 per cent in 2026, he warned that fiscal constraints could limit health spending.

Climate-related impacts are already evident, with rising heat-related deaths and extreme weather contributing to food insecurity. In Nigeria, challenges such as desertification in the North, flooding in the South, and pollution in oil-producing areas are worsening health outcomes and displacing communities.

To tackle workforce shortages, Salako said the government has expanded training capacity, with medical school admissions rising by about 160 per cent between 2023 and 2025. Training for nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists has also been scaled up.

He added that authorities are strengthening community health worker programmes and implementing task-shifting policies to improve access to care in underserved areas.

The government is also engaging Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora. Salako disclosed that seven diaspora associations across the UK, United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, and South Africa will carry out a coordinated medical mission in Nigeria between April and July, focusing on skills transfer and institutional support.

With more than 150,000 Nigerian health professionals abroad, many in senior roles, he described the diaspora as a strategic resource for bridging capacity gaps.

The minister called for stronger international collaboration, including ethical recruitment practices and support for countries that train health workers who later migrate.

He urged developed nations to fully implement the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel and advocated for bilateral agreements that allow professionals to gain experience abroad while ensuring knowledge transfer back home.

“No country can tackle the global health workforce crisis alone. Future health emergencies will not respect borders. Strengthening healthcare systems in developing nations is not charity it is a matter of global security,” he said.